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Each year, the AIA Conference on Architecture features hundreds of speakers and an unrivaled range of education sessions on emerging trends, thought-provoking topics, practice strategies, and some of the most interesting ideas in architecture.

We’re planning our 2018 program and would love your help. If you’re a subject matter expert with a great concept for an A’18 education session, we invite you to submit your proposal by August 1, 2017.

The 2017 AIANJ Design Competition

The 2017 AIANJ Design Competition will be run electronically through a system called CadmiumCD. The electronic format will allow members to also participate the 2017 QUAD State Design Competition. Instead of preparing a board, participants will upload photographs, drawings and copy into the system. There have been minor changes to the submission categories this year for ease in participating in the QUAD competition. As in years past, the three-member jury will meet to determine winners, reviewing projects via computer screen. The fee to participate remains at $150 for the first design submission and $100 for each additional submission. Participants will have the opportunity to also participate in the QUAD State Conference for a fee of $25.

ELIGIBILITY

Architects licensed and residing in New Jersey may submit projects located anywhere. Architects whose practice is located outside New Jersey may submit projects whose site is located in New Jersey. AIA membership is required. Architectural interns and students are eligible only for the Unbuilt category. Credit must be given to all contributing architectural firms. The project, or submitted work, must have been completed after June 30, 2010. “Completed” is defined as “substantial completion” in accordance with standard AIA documents.CATEGORIES

BUILT AWARDS:

Built Project categories recognize design excellence in various kinds of built architectural projects recognizes design excellence in various kinds of built architectural projects. Submissions may be a single building, a related group of buildings, interior architecture, additions, restorations, or adaptive use projects. Entries may fall into more than one category but must be assigned by the entrant to one category only.

Commercial, Institutional, Educational, or Multi-Family Residential Design
Eligibility: Both public and private projects- single buildings, a related group of buildings forming a single project, interior architecture, and additions/renovations.

Residential Design
Eligibility: Single family residences and/or accessory buildings, new or remodeled, or any addition. Projects previously submitted to the Alice Washburn Awards program may also be submitted to this category.

The University of Pennsylvania’s new Pennovation Center is a rebel, a futurist, a disruptor. It’s a phenomenon of a building that is also a machine for sparking new growth in the fields of learning, commerce, and community across greater Philadelphia and beyond. What’s more, its bold approach to sustainability that leverages its industrial heritage as an engine for research and learning has earned it a LEED Gold rating.

Along with AIA National, AIA NJ stands for a sustainable future and for protecting communities from the impact of climate change.

Climate change caused by human activity remains one of the most urgent challenges of the 21st century. Rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases already are causing rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and degradation of natural resources. These trends are projected to continue and possibly accelerate, posing significant risks to national security, human health, food supply, global economies, and natural ecosystems; many of these result in refugee crises.

The AIA recognizes that current planning, design, construction, and real
estate practices contribute to patterns of resource consumption that will inhibit
the sustainable future of the Earth. Architects, as the leaders in design of the
built environment, are responsible to act as stewards of the Earth.
Consequently, we encourage communities to join with us in changing the
course of the planet’s future by supporting governmental and private sector
policy programs, including the development, evaluation, and use of codes,
standards and evidence-based rating systems, that promote the design,
preservation, and construction of sustainable communities and highperformance
buildings.

It is in this spirit that AIA NJ supports the passing of Senate Bill-3317 and we are looking forward to supporting the passing of coordinating Assembly Bill-5040.

An Act requiring New Jersey to join the United States Climate Alliance, and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

The State shall join the United States Climate Alliance and uphold the Paris Climate Accord, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and address the threats posed by climate change in accordance with the goals established therefor by the alliance.

This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would require New Jersey to join the United States Climate Alliance, a group formed to pursue policies to uphold the United States’ commitments to the Paris Climate Accord in order to address the threats posed by climate change. The group was formed by the Governors of California, New York, and Washington after President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

The Paris Climate Accord, joined by 195 countries, sets forth a five-year goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature below 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels and aims to limit the increase in average global temperature to 1.5 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels. The signatories to the agreement also pledge to undertake rapid reductions in greenhouse gases thereafter in accordance with best available science. Before and during the Paris conference, countries submitted comprehensive national climate action plans. Since the formation of the U.S. Climate Alliance, the Governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, as well as the Governor of Puerto Rico and the Mayor of the District of Columbia joined the alliance. Hundreds of mayors, business leaders, and university presidents have committed to honor the goals of the Paris agreement as well. The United States Climate Alliance is committed to upholding the Paris Climate Accord and reducing greenhouse gases in order to address the threats posed by climate change.

Current member states of the U.S. Climate Alliance comprise 36 percent of the United States population and over 30 percent of the United States gross domestic product. The United States’ goal under the Paris Climate Accord was to reduce national emissions by 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.

Data provided by Dean David Mohney, FAIA through college liaison, Seth Leeb, AIA

The second year of the School of Architecture wrapped up last month with final studio reviews. The student body consists of 52 architecture students with 36 more expected to enter in the fall. Applications to the program are up 250% compared to last year, primarily because knowledge of the new program is increasing.

Of special note this term, NAAB visited in April to determine eligibility for Kean’s Candidacy for Accreditation application, the Michael Graves College held its first-ever Beaux Arts Ball, and the Dean’s Circle annual giving group held its first meeting in support of students working both externally as well as within the college on outreach projects to communities in New Jersey.

Ongoing is the careful ramping up of the use of the Michael Graves Warehouse in Princeton for college programs. AIA/NJ is invited to use the Warehouse for a future board meeting, and will be hosting AIA/Newark and Suburban in September, coordinated by Seth Leeb.

Looking ahead, the fall term will begin with Peter Eisenman, FAIA, Int FRIBA, speaking at the Convocation ceremony. The college lecture series and professional workshops will continue through that semester. All AIA/NJ members are invited to these events. Finally, the first class of Architecture students begins at Wenzhou-Kean University in China this fall.

A very special event took place during the 2017 AIA Conference in Orlando, for which I was privileged to be a part. The mission of this event, sponsored by the Andersen Window Company under the auspices of the Cheeriodical Children’s Foundation, was to bring happiness to children receiving medical care at the Florida Hospital for Children.

When asked by Gary Messiano, Business Architectural Representative for Andersen Windows, to be part of this great program, I admit I was a bit apprehensive. The thought of children with serious medical issues makes me deeply saddened. However, after learning about all the good the Cheeriodicals organization does, I accepted this mission to bring happiness and comfort to children facing hardship.

When the conference floor opened on Thursday, volunteers for the Cheeriodical event gathered at the Andersen Window display and started preparing gift boxes by filling them with toys, games, puzzles, plush animals, and many other fun items. All day long, there were many architects, students and other vendors stopping by and helping prepare gift boxes. The boxes were tailored for children of all ages and genders. By the end of Thursday, we had prepared approximately 150 boxes. Continue reading →